Business minister Anna Soubry today visited Leicestershire to see how government investment is helping high tech manufacturer Winbro win multi-million pound contracts and expand its UK operations.

Coalville-based Winbro Group Technologies Ltd, which supplies blue chip companies like Rolls-Royce, GE, Pratt and Whitney, Snecma and Siemens, has won contracts estimated to be worth £88 million since starting on the government-backed Sharing in Growth programme nine months ago.

The company, which designs and produces high technology machining systems and manufactures components for high pressure turbine blades, joined Sharing in Growth (SiG) in October 2014 because it wanted to grow its order book, improve operational efficiencies and develop its skilled workforce.

Since then SiG engineers and business gurus have used their expertise to train staff and drive productivity improvements. This has enabled Winbro to win new contracts, maintain 170 jobs and create a dozen more. The company, which has five sites on Coalville’s Whitwick Business Park, is also expanding its Advanced Manufacturing division into a new 28,000 square foot facility in Shepshed near Loughborough.

The government’s Regional Growth Fund which, alongside industry, pays for the SiG programme has so far contributed £314,000 to Winbro with a further £223,455 being invested by the company itself. Winbro Group will receive a total of £1.51m from the RGF over the course of the project.

Business Minister Anna Soubry said: ““Our long-term economic plan for the Midlands is to make it the engine for growth in the UK. Growth in advanced manufacturing and the skilled jobs it provides is a key part of that plan which is why I’m delighted our partnership with Winbro is producing such great results.”

Winbro Director Andy Lawson said: “SiG has allowed us to breakthrough to the next level. While we have invested in new equipment and facilities, we did not have the wherewithal or know-how to invest in our people development at the same pace. The SiG programme is underpinning our growth, upskilling our people and making this growth sustainable over the long term.”

SiG chairman Bryan Jackson CBE said: “Sharing in Growth is an in-depth four year programme designed by industry to make industry world-beating. Each beneficiary receives support worth in excess of £1 million. The first 15 beneficiaries on the programme have won or retained over £350 million contract value through improved competitiveness. Around 35 companies are set to benefit in our first phase and we are actively recruiting another 30 who want to move from being good to great. ”